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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.